Suzanne Rowe

The NZ government has updated its targets for biogenic methane emissions "Following Cabinet approval, the target will be set at a range of 14–24 per cent below 2017 levels by 2050, reflecting the findings of the independent Methane Science Review released in 2024." The press release has links to investments to achieve these targets including: "Cool Sheep – continued roll out of low methane sheep genetics including methane measurement of rams, farmer engagement and developing a tool to track low methane genetics in flocks. Low methane sheep genetics has potential to achieve 1 percent reduction per year while not impacting productivity." which uses technology (PAC trailers and genomic selection developed by AgResearch) #1

An ICAR Feed and GAS/ASGGN Hybrid Workshop is being held on the 5th October in Nairobi, Kenya 10am - 4pm EAT. Join for the latest global initiatives, measurement technology and the impact of breeding schemes on reduction of emissions from livestock asggn.org/icar-feed-and-…

@mariocalus @WURanimal Congratulations Mario - much deserved !

#wur_abg @WURanimal @mariocalus

A big congrats to our own Ken Dodds, named a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics at its conference in Perth last night - for his outstanding contributions to the science of genetics and animal improvement #AAABG 🔬👏

Jason Archer presenting on the roll out of methane BVs in New Zealand and how we are working towards recognition of methane BVs from breeder through to the commercial producer level. #AAABG @NZBeefLamb #coolsheep @AgResearchNEWS @mcewanjc

Our cool paper combining host genetics and microbiome/metagenome profiles for prediction of methane and other traits in sheep is out now in GSE 🎉 @SuzanneRowe101 @mcewanjc @triciaj77 @KathrynMMcRae gsejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.11…

Lots of methane and microbes talk at #AAABG Timothy Bilton talks about using rapid rumen profiling technology for high throughput prediction of methane and feed efficiency BVs @AgResearchNEWS @triciaj77 @grasstogas

@HoraceSmith1945 @AaronJMeikle @CountryWideNZ @NZBeefLamb @mcewanjc Completely agree Horace that everyone's breeding objectives are personal to them and their business goals. Certainly not our place to advise people what to breed for, but to develop robust tools so that they have a choice.

@SuzanneRowe101 @AaronJMeikle @CountryWideNZ @NZBeefLamb @mcewanjc Thanks for reply Suzanne Not yet ready to change ram buying behaviour For many years buy rams with multiple traits high genetic merit from reputable studs Some have been duds Have culled some before 1st use as unwanted problems emerge Add in CH4 will confound selection process

Vet Trevor Cook says that more and more, science-generated outcomes are being challenged or ignored. ow.ly/uSRN50OHw8P

@HoraceSmith1945 @AaronJMeikle @CountryWideNZ @NZBeefLamb @mcewanjc We have measured tens of thousands of sheep across New Zealand and looked at every trait we could from survival to meat quality. As animal breeders, if we had ignored a potential threat to profitability of this magnitude, we would not be serving our industry well.

@AaronJMeikle @CountryWideNZ @NZBeefLamb @SuzanneRowe101 @mcewanjc Its work in progress too early before scalable across commercial sheep farms Look at effort to get facial eczema tolerance & parasite resistance introduced across flocks On-farm experience for FE suggests 20+ years to lock-in with confidence without slippage of other traits

Really looking forward to the ANZCO women in agriculture conference - such a buzz in the room

@ICAR_Committee @birgitgredler Thanks for a great meeting and the opportunity to attend via webinar. Really practical and useful summary of the global activity in this area.

Meeting and webinar on "Measure and analyse individual methane emission in cattle” organised by the ICAR Feed & Gas WG attended by 220 participants icar.org/index.php/tech…

@deane_ag @AaronJMeikle @BenDooley8 @mcewanjc Over the 12 years that our selection lines have been running we have followed genetically diverse lines across ages, feed types, feed quality changes and seasons and whilst all these things affect the absolute amounts emitted they have never re ranked.

@AaronJMeikle @BenDooley8 @SuzanneRowe101 @mcewanjc My general experience has been GXE interactions are rare. And I try not to get too hung up on them.

This is so incredibly flawed. How do they measure differences between genetic lines in cold wet winters vs warm, growthy ones?In summer dry vs summer safe country? I get the feeling that this is just trying to meet the demands of those who have no clue (politicians).

@angela_canovas @ABSc_UofG @uofg @UofGResearch Congratulations, Proff !

Happy to share that I am promoted to Full Professor! Thank you @ABSc_UofG and @uofg @UofGResearch for all your continuos support, to all members of the #CánovasLab, to collaborating students, faculty & international researchers, funders, and industries. Time to celebrate it!

@jenniepryce @mmichelleaxford @VicGovAg Watching with interest, we have been extracting DNA from our dead lambs for a few years.

DairyBio would like samples from dead calves to help reduce calf death and help breed for ripper calves ⁦@mmichelleaxford⁩ ⁦⁦@VicGovAg⁩

Interesting visits to Silver Fern Farms, Lincoln University Research Farm and Inis Free Farm all in Canterbury today. Many similarities between the Irish and NZ way of farming and some very interesting joint research going on regarding sustainable farming. #StPatricksDay2023

@croftfootfarm @pirntatonjim @MarkYoungCIEL1 @InnovisLtd @AgResearchNEWS @Fergenetics Hi Colin, Low emitters tend to have greater lean yield and have more branch chain fatty acids in the meat.

@SuzanneRowe101 @pirntatonjim @MarkYoungCIEL1 @InnovisLtd @AgResearchNEWS Did you mention something around levels of fat Suzanne in low emitters on a podcast with @Fergenetics some time back ?

@pirntatonjim @MarkYoungCIEL1 @InnovisLtd @AgResearchNEWS James, we have been watching this closely - after tens of thousands of measures, we find low emitters happily existing in every flock and under every management system. Early raw data suggests that high emitters might have big rumens and lows are average.

@MarkYoungCIEL1 @InnovisLtd @AgResearchNEWS If I remember correctly from SBRT, lower methane emissions were linked to phenotype with lower rumen volume? As an upland sheep farmer, that starts alarm bells ringing. Unintended consequences need careful consideration.

@Anne_Mottet Many congratulations

🎖️Je viens d'apprendre que j'ai été nommée Chevalière de l'ordre du Mérite Agricole, aussi connu sous le petit nom de poireau! Merci à mes collègues français d'avoir porté ma candidature! Je suis très fière! I am a knight of the French Order of Agricultural Merit! ✌️🤩

@DJ_de_Koning Have a great time, I do at least have sunshine 🌞